What's your job about?
New Zealand Steel is our countries leading steel-making company. We make a range of steel products in a unique process using local iron and. I work as a process engineer in the Steelmaking Department. We take ladles of hot metal (iron) and blow them with oxygen to convert them to steel. The molten steel is then cast into slabs and billets for further processing in our rolling mills.
I am part of the Technical Team and our job is to ensure the final product is made with the correct chemistry and as safely and efficiently as possible. Daily tasks include process and spec control, incident investigations, material trials and data analysis. We also work on a variety of projects and trials as they arise alongside our operations and maintenance teams.
What's your background?
I grew up in Pukekohe, South Auckland, not too far from the Steel Mill. I went to a local primary and high school in Pukekohe and then moved up to the city to study at the University of Auckland. I studied for a degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering. In my third year of university, I went on an exchange to the University of Edinburgh for a semester. This was an amazing opportunity, I got to travel across the world and learn about chemical engineering from a different point of view as well as learn heaps about myself.
I was a summer student at New Zealand Steel throughout the university. I got the opportunity to work in the Ironmaking Plant, Rolling Mills and Pipe Mill. I enjoyed the work I got to do as a student so applied for the graduate programme in my last year of university. I have been at New Zealand Steel for two and a half years now, I spent the first 10 months in the Metal Coating Plant and then moved to the Steel Plant where I am now.
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Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, a lot of this job is learned as you go. It would be good to have some basic technical and chemistry knowledge, but our steel plant is very unique so most of the learning happens on the job.
You need to have good problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a very dynamic environment. Also, people and communication skills are vital. Most projects and trials involve collaboration between various technical/operations/maintenance teams and communication is key.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
There is so much history in the Steel Plant and the Steel Mill itself but there is always something new to learn. Even people that have worked here for 30 years are still learning new things every day. I work with people from various backgrounds and it is cool to be able to come together to solve a problem or learn something new.
There is a lot of variety to the job – no two days are ever the same and because the plant is running 24/7 you never quite know what you will be walking into the next morning.
What are the limitations of your job?
Things can take a long time to happen. The company is very open to trying new things, but trials can take a lot of setting up and there are often a lot of hoops to jump through.
In my team, we take turns being on call after work hours, most weeks when things are running smoothly you will get no calls, but some nights/weekends can be taken up when we are facing issues (although you are never on your own – there is always someone to help).
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
Don’t focus too much on grades – as much as you need decent grades, take time to learn and practice people skills because, in the end, those will take you a lot further in your career.
Give new things a go – there are so many opportunities at university that you may never get again so make the most of them.
Have fun 😊